KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1976 Population: 93,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 2.3% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 71 Official languages: Creole, English and French Time: GMT plus 4 hrs Currency: Seychelles rupee (SRs)

Geography Area: 455 sq km Coastline: 491 km Capital: Victoria de mer palm, which is unique to the Population: 93,000 (2013); 88 per cent on The Republic of Seychelles lies in the western Seychelles and lives for up to 1,000 years. Of Mahé, seven per cent on Praslin, three per part of the Indian Ocean, north of about 200 plant species, 80 are indigenous, cent on La Digue and two per cent on the Madagascar and 1,593 km east of Mombasa, including the bois rouge, the giant bois de fer other islands, with 53 per cent living in urban Kenya. It is an isolated archipelago of and the capucin. Forest covers 88 per cent of areas; growth 1.3 per cent p.a. 1990–2013; outstanding natural beauty comprising about the land area and there was no significant birth rate 17 per 1,000 people; life 115 islands, the largest and most loss of forest cover during 1990–2012. expectancy 73 years. economically important of which is Mahé. Wildlife: Fruit bats, flying foxes, geckos and The population is of mixed African, French, Area: 455 sq km; maritime zone more than skinks are common, and there are more than Indian, Chinese and Arab descent. There are 1.3 million sq km. 3,000 species of insects. The giant tortoise small minorities of Europeans, Indians and Topography: There is a compact group of (which appears on the Seychelles coat of Chinese. 41 mountainous granite islands, including arms) survived near-extinction; there are now Language: The official languages are Creole, Mahé (the largest), Praslin and La Digue. All several thousand on Aldabra. There are many English and French. Seychellois Creole (Kreol three have high central granite ridges, the species of rare birds such as the bare-legged Seselwa) is French-based and very widely used. highest point being Morne Seychellois (905 scops owl, Seychelles kestrel, black parrot, Religion: Mainly Christians (Roman Catholics metres) on Mahé. The other islands are built magpie robin and paradise flycatcher. Four 76 per cent, Anglicans six per cent, and small of coral, and are scattered, low-lying and islands are bird sanctuaries, including Bird numbers of other Christians); Hindus two per sparsely populated. Island, which is inhabited by millions of fairy cent and Muslims one per cent (2010 terns. Six mammal species and nine bird Climate: Tropical. The south-east trade winds census). Belief in the supernatural and gris- species are thought to be endangered (2014). blow May–October. The north-west monsoon gris (the old magic of spirits) often coexists winds bring heavy squalls of rain. January is Main towns: Victoria (capital, pop. 21,700 in with Christian and other beliefs. Sorcery was the wettest month, July and August the 2010) and Anse Royale (4,168), both on Mahé. outlawed in 1958. driest. Temperature remains constant Transport: There are 510 km of roads, 97 Health: Public spending on health was four throughout the year, at 24–31°C, and per cent paved; only Mahé, Praslin and La per cent of GDP in 2012. A network of humidity at around 80 per cent. The country Digue have surfaced roads. Cruiseships and polyclinics provides general medical care, is outside the cyclone belt. cargo ships call at Mahé. dentistry and other services. There are also Environment: The most significant Seychelles International Airport is at Point private general practitioners. The public environmental issue is dependence on health service depends heavily on medical Larue, 10 km from Victoria. There are airstrips rainwater for supply of water. personnel from overseas. There is no malaria, on several outlying islands. yellow fever or bilharzia. Some 96 per cent of Vegetation: The granite islands support the population uses an improved drinking luxuriant tropical forest on the mountain water source and 97 per cent have access to slopes. The coral islands are also densely Society adequate sanitation facilities (2012). Infant covered with vegetation more characteristic KEY FACTS 2013 mortality was 12 per 1,000 live births in 2013 of sandy coral soils. Generally, the most Population per sq km: 204 (43 in 1978). common trees are the coconut palm and Life expectancy: 73 years casuarina. Others include banyans, screw Education: Public spending on education pines and tortoise trees and the giant coco Net primary enrolment: 94% (2011) was four per cent of GDP in 2011. There are

THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015

Seychelles

ten years of compulsory education starting at Saints’ Day (1 November), Immaculate GDP by sector (2013) the age of six. Primary school comprises six Conception (8 December) and Christmas Day. years and secondary five, with cycles of three Religious festivals whose dates vary from year and two years. Some 94 per cent of pupils Agriculture to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday complete primary school (2010). The school 3.5% and Corpus Christi. year starts in January. Teaching is in Creole, Industry French and English. 15.2% The Seychelles Polytechnic opened in January Economy Services 81.3% 1983 at Anse Royale on the island of Mahé. KEY FACTS 2013 It offers courses in business and the visual GNI: US$1.2bn arts to diploma level and has been providing GNI p.c.: US$12,530 trade deficit. GDP grew by 1.4 per cent p.a. first-year degree courses in conjunction with 1979–89. the University of Manchester, UK, since 2001. GDP growth: 4.1% p.a. 2009–13 Consequently, the government made efforts The Seychelles Institute of Technology was Inflation: 8.1% p.a. 2009–13 to diversify the economy, encouraging established in Providence, Mahé, in 2005–06, Despite having one of the highest per capita farming, fishing and manufacturing in the incorporating the technical studies incomes in Africa, Seychelles is vulnerable whole country including the outer islands. programmes of the polytechnic. Other economically, due to its small size, isolation, State-owned and parastatal enterprises important tertiary institutions include the limited natural resources and dependence on accounted in the mid-1990s for more than National Institute of Education, National tourism, which accounts for the bulk of Institute for Health and Social Studies, half of GDP and some privatisation of state foreign-exchange earnings. Though tourism Agricultural and Horticultural Training Centre, enterprises was under way during the 1990s. worldwide grew strongly during the 1990s, Maritime Training Centre and Seychelles By the late 1990s, there was good growth for and cheaper long-haul flights made Tourism Academy. The female–male ratio for several years, and canned tuna became the destinations such as Seychelles more gross enrolment in tertiary education is major export. accessible, the industry became increasingly 3.40:1 (2011). Literacy among people aged But the economy underwent a small overall competitive. Imports needed for tourism were 15–24 is 99 per cent (2010). decline during 2001–04, before growth in large part responsible for the country’s Media: The Rising Sun and Seychelles Nation strengthened to seven to ten per cent in (state-owned) are published daily. Weeklies 2005–07, as a result of increased foreign include Le Nouveau Seychelles , The People Real growth in GDP direct investment and tourism receipts. Then, % in 2008, in the teeth of the world economic (owned by the People’s Party) and Regar % 8 (Seychelles National Party). 7 downturn, the economy stalled and 6 Seychelles turned to the IMF for emergency The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation 5 support. With a sharp fall in tourism income provides public radio and TV services in 4 and cuts in public expenditure, GDP shrank Creole, French and English. Multichannel 3 by 2.1 pger ce nt in 2 008 and by 1.1 per cent cable and satellite TV services are also 2 in 2009. How ever, in response to economic available. 1 reforms initia ted in late November 2008, in Some 95 per cent of households have TV sets 0 2010–11 the economy bounced back, with (2010). There are 216 personal computers -1 two years of strong growth, followed by per 1,000 people (2007). -2 good steady growth in 2012–15. 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Communications: Country code 248; internet domain ‘.sc’. Payphones are available Inflation History in most districts on the inner islands. Internet Although visited by Phoenicians, Malays and % 35 connections are good in Seychelles. There are Arabs, and used in the 16th century CE by several internet cafes on Mahé, Praslin and La 30 the Portuguese as a stopover point, the Digue. The main post office is in Victoria. 25 Seychelles remained largely uninhabited until

For every 1,000 people there are 234 20 the 17th century. Pirates and privateers set up landlines, 1,473 mobile phone subscriptions bases on the islands and in 1741 the 15 and 504 internet users (2013). Governor of Mauritius (then called Île de 10 France) sent Lazare Picault to explore them. Public holidays: New Year (two days), 5 The French claimed possession of the islands Labour Day (1 May), Liberation Day in 1756 and French settlers from Mauritius, (anniversary of the 1977 coup, 5 June), 0 with their African slaves, began to arrive from Constitution Day (18 June), Independence -5 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 1770. Day (29 June), Assumption (15 August), All British attempts to take possession in the late 18th century were confounded by the Seychelles on the international stage pacifying tactics of Governor Queau de The most prolific Seychellois writer was Antoine Abel (1934–2004), who was known for his Quinssy, who several times surrendered to novels, short stories, poems and plays. He wrote in three languages – English, French and British aggressors, then after their departure, Creole – winning the French literary prize Prix Mascareignes in 1979. raised the French flag again. After the Eddy Allen Maillet, born in 1967, is an international football referee who hails from Seychelles. Napoleonic Wars, by the Treaty of Paris (1814), the Seychelles was ceded to Britain,

THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015 Seychelles

together with Mauritius. From then until There were a number of threatened coup necessarily at the same time. The President 1903, it was administered from Mauritius. plots against the René government, the most appoints a cabinet – not including members serious in 1981, when about 50 mercenaries, of parliament – and is empowered under the The Seychelles had long provided a transit recruited in South Africa, attempted a 1993 constitution to rule by decree. point for slaves from Africa. Britain abolished landing in Mahé. When their weapons were trade in slaves at the beginning of the 19th In August 1996, the constitution was discovered at the airport, the mercenaries century (abolishing slavery itself in 1834) and amended to create the office of Vice- escaped by hijacking an Air India jet, leaving British vessels were active in attacking President. five of their number behind. Spanish, Arab and other slaving vessels. About 3,000 Africans rescued from Arab However, opposition from exiled political slave traders on the East African coast supporters of the SDP and Mancham Politics between 1861 and 1874 were removed to continued throughout the 1980s, and was Last elections: 3–5 and 16–18 December Seychelles, to become labourers on the reinforced by the turning of the international 2015 (presidential), 29 September – 1 plantations. The British also exiled some West tide against centralised economic control and October 2011 (legislative) African chiefs, who were continuing to resist one-party rule towards the end of the Next elections: 2020 (presidential), 2016 British control, to Seychelles. There was also decade. By 1990, opposition within the (legislative) country also became vocal, and the some Chinese and Indian settlement in the Head of state: President James Alix Michel 19th century, most commonly by traders. government began to consider the need for change. Head of government: The President Poverty was widespread by 1918, due partly Ruling party: People’s Party to a fall in vanilla prices (an artificial In December 1991, the government passed substitute having been discovered). New cash legislation to provide for multiparty Women MPs: 44% crops such as cinnamon and copra were then democracy. Eight parties were registered by Following the 1998 elections Wavel introduced. In the 1940s, the Association of July 1992, and a constitutional commission Ramkalawan formed a new party, the elected to prepare a new constitution which Seychelles Taxpayers protested against the Seychelles National Party (SNP), to succeed his paved the way for presidential and legislative UK’s management of the islands. In 1964 the United Opposition party. In an early elections in July 1993. René took 59 per cent Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP), led by presidential election in September 2001, René of votes in the presidential election and Sir James Mancham, and the Seychelles People’s was returned to office, securing 54 per cent James Mancham 36 per cent; and the SPPF United Party (SPUP), led by France Albert of the votes, defeating Ramkalawan (45 per gained a large majority – 27 of the 33 seats – René, were founded. The SDP favoured cent), in a much closer contest than in 1998. in the National Assembly. retaining close ties with the UK; the SPUP Though the SNP significantly strengthened its campaigned for autonomy. In the March 1998 elections, President René position in the parliamentary elections in Universal adult suffrage was introduced in (with 67 per cent of the votes) was returned December 2002, with 11 of the 34 elective 1967, for elections of members of the and his SPPF won 24 of the 25 Assembly seats and 43 per cent of the votes, the ruling legislative council. The council became a 15- seats (30 of 34 when seats allocated on a Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF) – member Legislative Assembly in 1970 (later proportional basis were included). Mancham with 23 seats – remained in control of the National Assembly) and general elections (14 per cent) was overtaken by Wavel National Assembly. Ramkalawan of the United Opposition party were held in which the SDP won six seats Following the elections, the SPPF chose Vice- (19 per cent) as opposition leader. and the SPUP five. Mancham became Chief President and Finance Minister Minister. At the next elections in 1974, the as their candidate for the presidential contest SDP won 52 per cent of the votes, the SPUP Constitution due in 2006, France Albert René being 47 per cent; Seychelles achieved internal self- Status: Republic with executive President allowed only two terms under the government in the following year. constitution. In April 2004, after almost 27 Legislature: National Assembly of Seychelles Parliament then voted for independence, a years as head of state, René stood down and new constitution was finalised in 1976, and Independence: 29 June 1976 Michel became President. Seychelles became an independent republic The independence constitution provided for a Michel was endorsed by the electorate in the within the Commonwealth. Mancham multiparty state. The 1979 constitution made July 2006 presidential contest when, with 54 became President and René Prime Minister. Seychelles a one-party state, the sole per cent of the votes cast, he defeated the At independence Mancham and the SDP’s candidate for a presidential election to be SNP’s . nominated by the ruling party. This policies favoured development based on In the parliamentary elections held in May constitution was amended in 1992, when tourism and offshore financial services, and 2007, the ruling SPPF, with 56 per cent of the multiparty democracy was reintroduced and, alignment with the West, whereas René and votes, again won 23 seats and the SNP, with after a process of consultation involving the SPUP wanted a non-aligned policy and 44 per cent, again took 11. the development of a self-reliant economy referendums, replaced by the 1993 At its 24th National Congress in June 2009 centred on nationalised industry. The SPUP constitution. the SPPF was renamed the People’s Party. staged an armed coup in June 1977, while Under the 1993 constitution, Seychelles is a Mancham was in the UK attending a unitary republic, with a multiparty democracy. In the May 2011 presidential election Michel Commonwealth summit and Seychelles It has a unicameral parliament, the National was re-elected, winning 56 per cent of the became a socialist state, with René as its Assembly, comprising up to 34 seats, 25 of votes cast. His principal rival, Ramkalawan of President and the SPUP, renamed the which are elected by universal adult suffrage, the SNP, secured 41 per cent of the votes. A Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF), on a first-past-the-post basis, and up to nine Commonwealth expert team present declared the sole political party. There was extensive seats on the basis of proportional the electoral process credible. Among its nationalisation of enterprises, including hotels representation. Parliamentary and presidential recommendations were that the government and industries. elections take place every five years, not carry out a thorough review of electoral

THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015 Seychelles

Further information International relations Seychelles is a member of the African, President’s Office: www.statehouse.gov.sc Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Electoral Commission: www.ecs.sc African Union, Common Market for Eastern National Assembly of Seychelles: www.nationalassembly.sc and Southern Africa, Indian Ocean Rim National Bureau of Statistics: www.nsb.gov.sc Association, Non-Aligned Movement, Central Bank of Seychelles: www.cbs.sc Organisation internationale de la Seychelles Tourism Board: www.seychelles.travel Francophonie, Southern African Development Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Community, United Nations and World Trade : www.commonwealthofnations.org/ country/Seychelles Organization. Media Seychelles became a member of the Indian Seychelles Nation : www.nation.sc Ocean Rim Association on 15 November Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation: www.sbc.sc 2011 and the World Trade Organization on Seychelles eNews: www.seychellesweekly.com 25 April 2015, the organisation’s 161st member. legislation, and establish an independent The Electoral Commission was appointed in electoral commission, as recommended in the August 2011 and the Forum for Electoral April 2010 report of the Constitutional Reform – inaugurated in January 2012 with Traveller information Immigration and customs: Passports must Review Commission. the support of all five registered political be valid at least until the date of departure. Following the presidential election in May parties – embarked on a series of public Visas are required by most Commonwealth 2011 the SNP boycotted parliament citing the hearings, with a view to making nationals. Prohibited imports include food; slow pace of electoral reform. Some recommendations on reform of election law. and plants and animals, and parts of plants disaffected SNP members then formed a new President Michel was returned in the election and animals, except where prior permission party, the Popular Democratic Movement of December 2015. He won 47.8 per cent of has been granted by the relevant authorities. (PDM), to fight the parliamentary elections the votes cast in the first round (held over 3– which were held from 29 September to 1 Travel within the country: Traffic drives on 5 December), Ramkalawan of the SNP taking October 2011. The elections were again won the left. Visitors holding a foreign driving 33.9 per cent and Patrick Pillay of Lalyans by the People’s Party led by President James licence are allowed to drive. Seselwa 14.2 per cent. In the second round Michel, taking all 25 elective seats in the Scheduled and chartered flights operate (16–18 December), Michel, with 50.15 per National Assembly and receiving 89 per cent between some of the islands. There are taxis cent, narrowly defeated Ramkalawan (49.85 of the votes cast. The PDM took 11 per cent on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and rates are per cent). Turnout was 90.1 per cent. of the votes but failed to win any of the government-controlled. elective seats. After the nine seats decided by Commonwealth observers, led by former Travel health: Prevalent diseases where proportional representation had been added, Prime Minister of Tonga Lord Sevele, said the appropriate precautionary measures are the People’s Party had 33 seats and the PDM election was ‘peaceful, generally well recommended include dengue fever, hepatitis one seat in the new National Assembly. conducted and transparent’ but expressed A, hepatitis B and typhoid. Turnout was 74 per cent, down from around concern about widespread allegations of vote 86 per cent in the last three elections. buying. There were 230,000 tourist arrivals in 2013.

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THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015